The Agency
The Playmarket agency is happy to offer advice as time allows to all playwrights with questions relating to their professional relationships with producers. However, preference is given to clients and members.
Playmarket represents over 300 playwright clients. We maintain links with producers and theatre venues throughout the world. We have already built strong relationships in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom and continue to research and develop our profile internationally. We strive to keep up to date with the constantly changing programming requirements, timetables and needs of all venues and producers and, through this information network, we aim to assist and promote New Zealand playwrights in any way we can.
New Zealand also has strong Amateur and Education markets for plays, with many of our clients receiving licensing in these areas. We are also available to act for our clients in the negotiation and representation of adaptations and screenplays, radio and TV.
Playmarket’s script development arm is seen as a way of growing our client representation for the future, so many new clients already have a strong relationship with Playmarket from having their work developed in our programmes. Clients are also eligible for ongoing development support - one arm of Playmarket feeds the other.
Client Status
Generally, Playmarket's invitation to be a client writer is made to playwrights who have works we believe have substantial long-term professional production potential. For it to be worth the while of both playwright and Playmarket, sufficient need for the writer to have an agent needs to be demonstrated – both in terms of the writer paying the agency commission from their earnings, and Playmarket expending the time on their behalf. In many cases Playmarket takes playwrights on as clients when their work is in professional demand, and licensing and royalty payments become too much for the writer to handle alone.
A commission of 10% of client royalties is charged for Playmarket’s services. Only New Zealand citizens or residents are eligible for representation. For further enquiries about the agency or representation issues, please contact Katrina Chandra, Agency Coordinator; agency@playmarket.org.nz
NB - 'Playwright membership' is not the same thing as Client Status.
Playmarket Agency Services
If a playwright accepts Playmarket's invitation to become a client, they then sign an agreement appointing Playmarket as their representative and authorising us to act on their behalf. This appointment will specify the mediums and territory in which Playmarket representation will occur.
Once appointed as agent Playmarket has the authority (in consultation with the client as needed and subject to any special arrangements) to negotiate and sign all licenses and sales agreements concerning the use of all the scripts the client has written for the stage (and film and television if agreed).
Our agency services include:
• Negotiation of license terms and commissioning contracts for all media
• Monitoring, collection and distribution of royalties
• Promotion and circulation of scripts to potential producers and on website
• Troubleshooting, support and advocacy during rehearsal and production
• Assistance with copyright advice (also for music)
• Maintenance of a library of clients’ scripts, biographies and publicity
• Specialist dramaturgical assistance and professional advice
• Eligibility for publication by Playmarket
• Preferential booking for special events, conferences etc.
